ABSTRACT
This paper investigates the physicochemical properties of possible pharmaceutical alternatives to L-p-boronphenylalanine (BPA)-fructose intravenous formulation currently employed in boron neutron capture therapy. The physicochemical properties of BPA in the absence and presence of fructose, mannitol, trehalose and hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HPCD) was investigated by determination of pKa values, solubility, precipitation and dissolution using a Sirius T3 instrument. Complex formation was also assessed using (10) B-Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results indicate that fructose and mannitol form a complex with BPA through a reversible interaction with the boronic acid group, determined by changes in the pKa of the boronic acid group, the ultraviolet and NMR spectra, and increase in kinetic solubility. Trehalose and HPCD did not undergo this reaction and, consequently, did not affect boronphenylalanaine physicochemical properties. Although mannitol is complexed with BPA in an identical manner to fructose, it is superior because it provides increased kinetic solubility. Replacement of fructose by mannitol in the current clinical BPA formulation is, therefore, feasible with advantages of increased dosing and removal of issues related to fructose intolerance and calorific load. Results also indicated that important pharmaceutical parameters are the complex's solubility and dissociation behaviours rather than, as originally assumed, the complex formation reaction.
Subject(s)
Boranes/chemistry , Fructose/chemistry , Phenylalanine/analogs & derivatives , 2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin , Boranes/therapeutic use , Boron Neutron Capture Therapy/methods , Boronic Acids/chemistry , Chemical Precipitation , Chemistry, Pharmaceutical/methods , Excipients/chemistry , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/methods , Mannitol/chemistry , Pharmacokinetics , Phenylalanine/chemistry , Phenylalanine/therapeutic use , Solubility , Trehalose/chemistry , beta-Cyclodextrins/chemistryABSTRACT
Boron phenylalanine is one of the lead drug candidates in the field of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. Its inherent low toxicity allows large doses to be administered, but this makes it important to identify, rationalise and quantify impurities. Here we report a chromatographic assay method, the conditions under which the parent compound is unstable, and the suggested degradation mechanisms.
